Cock-a-doodle-doo…

There’s a whole gang of peacocks and chickens living in and around a derelict property half way up the western coast of the island of Arran.  Thought these two made an interesting but odd couple.

It’s a lovely day today and we plan a circular tour of the island starting from the southwestern corner and going clockwise.  Peter spotted another Fulmar’s nest and this is probably the male leaving in a hurry!

Anyone for a game?

How about this for good camouflage for this Curlew? I am wondering whether it’s deliberate or just a happy accident…

The same applies to this Sandpiper…

There are so many different colours in the rocks on Arran…

… and textures too as here in this picture of another Curlew.

It’s boys day out for these two male Mallards.  Oddly there was a whole gang of them swimming together without any females.

All along the coast there appear the most beautiful wild harmonies – isn’t nature wonderful?

Sea Campion?

The Mute Swan family are still in their special sheltered spot…

The Cob is the one in front 

We have no fewer than 48 photos of this Tystie duo and the puzzle of the sand eel.  Will she won’t she?

I gave up in the end and left them to it. Goodness knows what that was all about!

There were a lot of Jackdaws near the harbour at Lochranza…

“Listen, do you want to know a secret?”

The eastern side of the island is different, as you will see.

Don’t jump!

Starting with the geology.

The smooth weathering large cross-bedded units of the Permian Corrie Sandstone  contrast with the disturbed bedding of the Carboniferous strata.

Further round past Brodick it looks different again.

 

Arran is a truly beautiful island with so much natural variation. This is the lighthouse on the isle of Pladda (one of the oldest lighthouses in Scotland) and you can see Ailsa Craig in the background.